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How Much Do You Love Me? by Paul Mark Tag-Blog Tour Review

Product Details

FTC, FYI: I received a review e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Description (From Amazon):As the phone continued to ring, Kazuko bent over and picked up the
cardboard. Fingers shaking, she steadied herself against the counter and
stared. It took a fourth ring before she composed herself enough to
answer. It was Patrick. “I was afraid that you had already left.” There was a pause. “Kazuko, are you there?” Kazuko’s heart was thumping hard. “I’m here, Patrick. You’re not
going to believe what I just found—in the last place we would have ever
looked.”

On December 7, 1941, Keiko Tanaka finds her whole world affected by the
Pearl Harbor bombings. Normally friendly neighbors are suddenly
suspicious of her Japanese ancestry, and her engagement to James
Armstrong—a Caucasian—becomes a crisis rather than a celebration.
Despite their parents’ protests, Keiko and James decide to marry before
she is sent to the internment camps and he to the war.

Nearly sixty years later, Keiko’s daughter, Kazuko—born in the
camps—attends to Keiko on her deathbed. However, a chance incident makes
her suspect that her mother is harboring a secret. The truths she is
about to uncover might unravel the family . . . and change her very
perception of abiding love.

EXCERPT:From the author: During the tumult of the
anti-Japanese frenzy that follows Pearl Harbor, Keiko Tanaka and her
Caucasian boyfriend, James Armstrong, decide to marry. Knowing that the
idea of their marriage will create a furor, they make their announcement
jointly (at a Christmas dinner) to the two families (the Tanakas farm
land is owned by the Armstrongs). The following sequence occurs after
James has made the announcement. Isamu and Akemi are Keiko’s parents;
Harrison and Barbara are James’; Misaki is Keiko’s twin sister.
=====James continued. “Keiko and I know how surprised you must be to hear
this news.” All eyes returned to the speaker. “We thought long and hard
about the best way to tell you. We chose Christmas Day so that you will
always associate it with me and Keiko, to our happiness.”

At this point, Keiko thought she should stand as well. She reached
across the table with her left hand and took his right, rotating her
hand in his parents’ direction. Surely, they would appreciate his
sincerity when they saw this beautiful symbol [author’s note: engagement
ring] of his affection. She tried to gauge their reaction. She saw
surprise, but not shock. So far, so good!

Keiko felt her face flush, and she knew why. She struggled to look to
her right, toward the one person at the table whose approval was
paramount. What she saw was not what she had hoped for. Isamu’s mouth
hung open, and it looked like he was squinting. His color was gone. Fear
gripped Keiko’s heart. She turned farther to try to assess her mother’s
reaction. Unfortunately, because Akemi was looking at her husband,
Keiko saw only her profile.

Hoping for better news at the opposite end of the table, Keiko turned
to her left again. As she did so, Harrison and Barbara Armstrong
switched their gaze from James to her. Compared to Keiko’s father, their
complexions appeared more normal. The younger children at the table
didn’t seem to know what to make of the situation. Their heads whipped
back and forth from one adult to another, trying to make sense of what
was obviously something quite unusual.And then, Misaki came through. Across the table, next to James, the
quiet of the room was broken by one set of hands clapping. Misaki
promised that she would support me, and here she is. Perhaps concluding
that if Keiko’s twin sister thought that this proclamation was worth
applause, the rest of the children clapped as well.

Regrettably, Keiko saw that none of the adults was joining this
spontaneous display of approval. Isamu’s back had straightened, and he
was staring down the table, at no one in particular. Akemi bowed her
head. Keiko hoped that James’s parents had chosen not to clap with the
children so as not to embarrass their other adult guests. When the kids
realized that those whose opinions at the table counted most were not
participating, the applause petered out.Keiko and James had figured that this could happen. James turned
first toward his parents and then toward the Tanakas. “Mom, Dad, Mr. and
Mrs. Tanaka, I want you to know…” He spoke directly to Isamu. “Mr.
Tanaka, please. I love your daughter more than anything. I promise you
that I will take care of her, every bit as well as you have. You have my
word.”

Keiko noticed the chirp of a bird outside the window. She wondered if
anyone else did, the senses of those at the table seemingly muffled by
the tension filling the room. Keiko decided it was time for her to
speak, and she turned to her right. “Papa, Mama.” Tears began to flow.
“Papa, please look at me.” Another moment. “Papa, please.” A bit of
color had returned to Isamu’s face, and he lifted his head to face his
daughter.

Keiko sniffled and struggled to contain her emotions. With her left
hand still in James’s and wet with perspiration, she wiped at her face
with her right. “Papa, I love James and want to spend the rest of my
life with him. I need your blessing.” Another beat of silence. “Mama?”

My Review:I have read many books about World War II, and also many about the Japanese Internment Camps. This story of Keiko and James is right up there as one of my favorites. It's already such an emotional subject of how American citizens of Japanese ancestry were treated during WWII after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. But as the reader becomes entangled in the life of Keiko and James you can't help but become emotionally involved.

The story takes place in two different time periods as the story jumps back and forth between 1941-1942 and 2000. I truly liked the way the story unfolded. I never felt that the story was stifled because of the events being told in this format.In 2000 Keiko has had a stroke, her husband James has Alzheimers and both can't communicate with their children. The reader soon finds out that there are deep, dark secrets that Keiko and James's children never knew about that eventually are revealed. They were shocking things and I figured it out near the end. Even though the story and characters are fictional, it had a realistic feel throughout it's pages. It was not always a happy read because of the events, but so worthwhile and a good reminder to not forget the past.I truly enjoyed this beautifully written story, full of sad American history, but also a love story with a rocky beginning that lasted. Anyone that enjoys historical fiction must read this book, especially those who love anything having to do with the WWII era.

Meet Author: Paul Mark TagPaul
Mark Tag graduated with multiple degrees in meteorology from
Pennsylvania State University and worked for the Naval Research
Laboratory as a research scientist for over thirty years before retiring
to write fiction. For years prior to retirement, and the following year
exclusively, he honed his skills writing short stories. These have been
published in StoryBytes, Potpourri, Green’s Magazine, and The
Storyteller, as well as The Errant Ricochet: Max Raeburn’s Legacy.In
2005, he self-published his first thriller, Category 5,which took
advantage of his knowledge of meteorology and weather modification,
followed by Prophecy and White Thaw: The Helheim Conspiracy. With his
historical novel How Much Do You Love Me? he has switched genres. He
lives with his wife, Becky, in Monterey, California.

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Note: Added 7-22-2014...I am suspending any reviews from new authors for a few months. I'll still be open to reviews from authors I've reviewed for previously. I am back logged with reviews and my new school year is starting soon. I will show here on the blog when I'll be accepting new review requests.

I am accepting books for review from authors and publishers. I will read most genres, but I prefer clean romances. I will review books, hold contests and interview authors; just explain in your e-mail about the particulars . Please contact me here at WhyNotBecauseISaidSo@gmail.com

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